Storytelling is a clear form of art — one that takes bounds of talent to be done right. Whether it’s through novels, film, or theater, a storyteller must create characters we can root for and have an interest in, a world that draws us in, and stakes that hold real weight.
Fanfiction is an entire world created from the smallest, most particular question: what if? What if Peter Parker moved into Hell’s Kitchen and met Daredevil? What if Percy Jackson sided with Luke in the Second Titan War? What if Harry Potter had been sorted into Slytherin?
Over the course of two months, eight videos and a total runtime of nearly five hours, Jonathan “J” and Ben Carlin of the YouTube channel SuperCarlinBrothers, strove to answer that final question.
The SuperCarlinBros YouTube channel mainly focuses on creating and explaining theories about the Harry Potter, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars universes. The brothers recently dipped their toes into the realm of fanfiction with a miniseries exploring how large an impact a character’s Hogwarts house can truly have on their life.
The miniseries, appropriately titled “What if Harry Was in Slytherin?” starts, of course, with the Sorting Hat declaring Harry as a Slytherin, placing him in the house home to Lord Voldemort, Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy. Harry struggles to fit in with the other Slytherin students, though this version still sees Harry and Ron Weasley quickly becoming best friends after meeting on the Hogwarts Express. However, one difference is that Harry’s typical Hogwarts foe, Draco, is not his immediate enemy. While they are not the best of friends, there is no real hatred between the two at the start of their first year. By their second year, the first major changes to the story become evident, as Tom Riddle takes Draco Malfoy into the Chamber of Secrets instead of Ginny Weasley, and Draco falls into the trap of the Horcrux. Throughout this year, Harry has an ongoing internal struggle and identity crisis: What does it mean to be a Slytherin? However, after saving Draco and the Basilisk’s lives by speaking Parseltongue, Harry finally embraces his house.
Harry and Draco’s relationship continues to change into their third year as they develop a certain level of mutual respect for one another. By this year, Ron has beaten Harry at Quidditch twice and has a crush on Cho Chang, and the Slytherin house is on a 10-year winning streak in the House Cup competition. In Year 4, Harry’s name is still dropped into the Goblet of Fire, but now he has begun developing feelings for Hermione Granger. Harry still pulls ahead in the Triwizard Tournament with help from different characters and even the still-living Basilisk. While Harry still has to face Voldemort at the end of the year, this time Cedric Diggory does not die. Year 5 sees Draco’s character development moving even further, as he reconsiders his family’s beliefs and does his best to turn against Voldemort, the Death Eaters and even Professor Umbridge. He also helps the crew of Dumbledore’s Army escape from Umbridge’s team after the DA is discovered. During year 6, Harry and Hermione explore their feelings for each other, realizing that they want to be together in the end, while Ron starts to develop his own feelings for Luna Lovegood. Draco tries his best to oppose the dark forces but is tortured by Voldemort into carrying out his dirty work, which includes making sure that Dumbledore still dies and the Death Eaters still invade Hogwarts. In the final two video installments, the Golden Trio still searches for and destroys the missing Horcruxes. Draco, still working to oppose Voldemort, takes out some of the Death Eaters’ forces before finally betraying Voldemort. In the end, Voldemort is defeated, Draco is redeemed, and Hogwarts remains standing as a place for future generations of wizards.
Not only is this eight-part series enjoyable and interesting to watch, it also shows good elements of storytelling from the SuperCarlinBros. From the eerie green lightning and smoke machine, to key scenes rewritten and acted out by the Bros, and the inclusion of viewers’ fanart of the SBC version of the story, there is never a dull moment in the experience, many of which were not highlighted in this article. Not only does their excessive knowledge of Harry Potter stand out, but viewers can feelthe love they have for this world in the care and the excitement they put into the miniseries.
Whether you are a Potterhead, SCB fan or neither, you will surely benefit from this absolute joyride.
